Product Line Director - Optical Transceivers
Smiths Interconnect, a Molex company, is seeking a Global Director of Product Line Management (PLM) to lead a high-performing global team responsible for rugged embedded fiber optic transceiver product lines serving aerospace, defense, and space markets. This role has full ownership of product line strategy and P&L performance and plays a critical role in driving profitable growth, technology leadership, and long-term value creation across mission-critical optical communications portfolios.
You will lead a distributed Product Line Management organization and partner closely with Engineering, Sales, Operations, Finance, and Marketing to align strategy, execution, and customer value across global markets.
· Own full product line P&L accountability, delivering revenue growth, gross margin expansion, and operating income targets
· Define and execute global product line strategy aligned with business objectives and long-term market opportunities
· Develop and maintain product roadmaps, business plans, and go-to-market strategies for current and next-generation products
· Identify and evaluate growth opportunities across aerospace, defense, and space segments, including new applications and adjacencies
· Lead market, customer, and competitive intelligence to guide portfolio optimization and investment decisions
· Translate customer and market requirements into differentiated, ruggedized optical solutions in partnership with Engineering
· Actively manage the full product lifecycle, from concept through launch, production, and end-of-life decisions
· Partner with Sales and Marketing to develop product positioning, messaging, pricing strategies, and sales enablement tools
· Engage directly with key customers and strategic prospects, serving as the voice of the customer across the organization
· Lead, develop, and mentor a global PLM team while strengthening organizational capability and succession
· Collaborate cross-functionally to improve execution, operational alignment, and customer outcomes
· Support strategic initiatives, including partnerships, acquisitions, and other inorganic growth opportunities
· Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
· Experience owning and managing product line P&L responsibility
· Experience leading product management or product line teams in aerospace, defense, space, or other high-reliability markets
· Working knowledge of electrical and/or optical systems used in complex, mission-critical applications
· Experience collaborating across Engineering, Sales, Operations, and Marketing to deliver business results
· Ability to travel domestically and internationally, up to 50%
· MBA and/or technical degree
· Experience with ruggedized fiber optic transceivers or optical communications technologies
· Demonstrated success developing and executing global product strategies and roadmaps
· Experience with value-based pricing and commercial strategy in engineered products
· Established customer relationships within aerospace, defense, or space markets
· Experience leading teams through growth, change, or integration following acquisitions
Product Line Director - Optical Transceivers
Smiths Interconnect, a Molex company, is seeking a Global Director of Product Line Management (PLM) to lead a high-performing global team responsible for rugged embedded fiber optic transceiver product lines serving aerospace, defense, and space markets. This role has full ownership of product line strategy and P&L performance and plays a critical role in driving profitable growth, technology leadership, and long-term value creation across mission-critical optical communications portfolios.
You will lead a distributed Product Line Management organization and partner closely with Engineering, Sales, Operations, Finance, and Marketing to align strategy, execution, and customer value across global markets.
· Own full product line P&L accountability, delivering revenue growth, gross margin expansion, and operating income targets
· Define and execute global product line strategy aligned with business objectives and long-term market opportunities
· Develop and maintain product roadmaps, business plans, and go-to-market strategies for current and next-generation products
· Identify and evaluate growth opportunities across aerospace, defense, and space segments, including new applications and adjacencies
· Lead market, customer, and competitive intelligence to guide portfolio optimization and investment decisions
· Translate customer and market requirements into differentiated, ruggedized optical solutions in partnership with Engineering
· Actively manage the full product lifecycle, from concept through launch, production, and end-of-life decisions
· Partner with Sales and Marketing to develop product positioning, messaging, pricing strategies, and sales enablement tools
· Engage directly with key customers and strategic prospects, serving as the voice of the customer across the organization
· Lead, develop, and mentor a global PLM team while strengthening organizational capability and succession
· Collaborate cross-functionally to improve execution, operational alignment, and customer outcomes
· Support strategic initiatives, including partnerships, acquisitions, and other inorganic growth opportunities
· Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
· Experience owning and managing product line P&L responsibility
· Experience leading product management or product line teams in aerospace, defense, space, or other high-reliability markets
· Working knowledge of electrical and/or optical systems used in complex, mission-critical applications
· Experience collaborating across Engineering, Sales, Operations, and Marketing to deliver business results
· Ability to travel domestically and internationally, up to 50%
· MBA and/or technical degree
· Experience with ruggedized fiber optic transceivers or optical communications technologies
· Demonstrated success developing and executing global product strategies and roadmaps
· Experience with value-based pricing and commercial strategy in engineered products
· Established customer relationships within aerospace, defense, or space markets
· Experience leading teams through growth, change, or integration following acquisitions
